# Hospital Mergers Are Making Your Healthcare Bills Explode w/ Natasha Murphy, Center for American Progress

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/care-talk-with-laura-packard-american-health-care-explained-6733935/hospital-mergers-are-making-your-healthcare-bills-explode-w-natasha-murphy-center-for-american-progress
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/care-talk-with-laura-packard-american-health-care-explained-6733935/hospital-mergers-are-making-your-healthcare-bills-explode-w-natasha-murphy-center-for-american-progress.md
Podcast: [Care Talk with Laura Packard: American Health Care Explained](https://stenobird.com/podcast/care-talk-with-laura-packard-american-health-care-explained-6733935)
Published: 2026-06-16T10:00:17+00:00
Episode link: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk
Audio file: https://audio4.redcircle.com/episodes/4e498619-1dae-40e8-8568-d2cedcd6bc2b/stream.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1739

## Resource

Why is healthcare so expensive in America? Hospital mergers are driving up your health care bills - and the data proves it. Natasha Murphy at Center for American Progress breaks down how hospital consolidation hands Big Hospital the power to charge you whatever they want in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices . Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more about a judge's ruling on Affordable Care Act marketplace changes for next year, a Medicare Advantage plan that handled charges incorrectly, proposed rule changes on Medicaid eligibility for next year, and whether or not vision insurance is a good deal. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk

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